Your New Home

Your New Home

You can never be certain what kind of maintenance previous owners were keeping up on the home you’ve just purchased. By going through this simple checklist, you are working to protect your investment in your new home.

Install/replace as needed. Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years. It is impossible to know how old the existing smoke detectors are. I recommend replacing them all.

Install/replace as needed. It is impossible to know how old the existing carbon monoxide detectors are. I recommend replacing them all and/or buying new if there are none in the home today.

Change the locks on all the doors. You have no way of knowing how many keys exist. Deadbolts can also improve security and may reduce your insurance costs.

Have these inspected and/or serviced when you move in. Plan to have this done on a regular basis.

Find the main shutoff for the heating, electrical & plumbing systems. Mark them if they are not clearly marked already. You need to be able to find them and shut things off fast in case of an emergency.

Label the circuits in the electrical panel so you can shut off the right fuse or breaker quickly. Mark them if they are not clearly marked already. You need to be able to find them and shut things off fast in case of an emergency.

Install/replace as needed. It is recommended to have one on each floor. The fire extinguisher near the kitchen should be specifically for grease fires.

Plan fire escape routes and meeting places with your family.